Power-transmission system



15 1927. Y March J. w. THROPP POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 13, 1924 I 1621385 March 15 1927. A J. w. THROPP POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM flrigi al Filed Aug. 13, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L as 3m, w I 56%11296:

I 1,621,385 March 15 1927' J. w. THROPP I POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 13, 1924 3 Sheet-Sheet 5 UNITED -;srA.-re s;

Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

7' JQSEPH W. TEROBP, F TRENTON,NEW JERSEY.

Application filed August-13, '1924,-Seria1 lie/731,890. Renewed December 11,:1926.

My'invention relates to power transmission -system's, and it has particular relation to means for magnetically connecting such systems. Thesystem-to -which the invention relates isof the type disclosed in imy Patent '1',3BU;271, dated May 3 1, 1921, for clutches.

@ne o'bjecto'i my invention isflto provide "a lclutch "structure for operatively associating fpower transmission systems, together T'With Jsimple "and eiiicient braking "1119/3118 n "therefor. k

. lkfrro'ther'object of my inventionis to provide magnetic clutch. mechanism, wherein undesirable leakage is reduced to a 'i'nlfilmum.

A: further iobject of *niyinvention :is to provide a magnetic clutch, wherein the for- :mettionnf air eusliionsbetween the relatively movable parts is substantially avoided.

Otherobjects"andapplications of my invention, as well as details of construction and operation whereby "my invention be practiced, will be apparent from the following "description and claims, when taken in connection with i the accompanying draw img, wherein," r

Fig. :1 is a side el'e'vational -view-of one 'formof embodiment dfrny invention;

Fi'g. '2 is a fhoijizontal sectional View taken 'onfthelin'e*II116fFig. 1; Fig. '3 is an enlargeddetail view of the' magnetic "clutch of "the (preceding figures; and, 7 c i 7 Figs. 4 and '5 are'enl'arged detail elevational and top plan views, respectively, of the control 'swit'c hand brake arm. J In the illustrated form of embodiment 1 of my invention shown in the 'drewingya driving shaft 1 is operativ-ly associated with a driven shaft Qbymeans of amagnetieally controlled coupling 3 adapted to constitute onejpart of a braking apparatus 4, the effectiveness of which may be c'ontrolledby a "solenoid 501' other actuatingfmeans.

.The coupling 3 may embody a planetary ,gearsystem 6, a driving sun gear 7 of which is keyed to ,an end portion 8. oifthedriving shaft 1. A plurality'of cooperating planet .gears9 are fprovided with trunnions 1 1 and 12 which are mounted respectively, in bearing's 13 and '14 formed in a planet carrier 15. Thep'lanet' carrier 15 form-s an enclosing casing-fertile planetary gear System 6 and it comprises side wall portions'lfi and '17 which respectively terminate in hub pornone 158 rand 1T9 'ioo elymmmted on wort-innsoffusuel design. is carried Lby the h ub 218;: serves 'to insulate magnetic'ally. the end v(if the driving =shaft "0'f the driving shaft 1 *po'sitibnedibn optiosite side's-of the'driving'gear 7-.

' .The'hub :portions 1'8'nnd '19 are pre ferably provided with bronze =bushings .21 and 22, the latter being adjustable as 28, whereby the driving shaft l'm'ay be magnetically 1,621,385 r 'E Q insulated from the i planet 'earrier Fhub .p0r-'- time "18 aandn195 as will appear'imore full-y hereinafter; The side portions "24 land :25 of the ihubs 1'8 and 19 zare also 'fmagnetiealiy insulated from the adjacent SidGSQ -ZE, 1a llli-b portion :26 of the driving gear 7 byl-Ineans- V [of bronze thrust :pla'tes T27 (and 28, respectively, The hub portion 18 of the ;planet terrier 15-i may be :seoured'to the driving shaft Q' 'b'y means of :a flanged coupling 29 A bronze plate 81 whieh fromithe driven shaft 2.

- The bearings :13 :Land 14 ifor tlie :lplanetgear 'trunnions T1 and 1am also iPI OVl LlQCl with 'bronzebushings 32iand88,nrespectiveliy,

while the side portionfs ot the' planet-5. gears '9 are magnetically insulated firom the adjaeent side walls x16, :and 17 by means-"of bronze thrust :Lplntes The outer end of the side wall 17 is provided with a Cylindrical flange 35, the end iof which is rigidly secured to the outer :end of the side well :16

- by 'boits 86, whereby the "side walls 16 end 17 may berigidl-y secured together the planetcarrier 1'5. c The l'anet gears 9 "may die locked or unlocked to effect an operative tor inoperative to 7 form -'eonnec'tion between the (driving shaft 1 "and the driven shaft'EZ by :a :plurality of mam netic clutches 37, 'whidhconstitute the subject-matter of my co-pending application for magnetic Ielutehes, Eel. No.5 8&8 15-25,: filed June 29, 1923. Each magnetic 'cluteh 37 con prises a field member '38, which is :nrounted about "a 'sprojeeting portion -.3-9,- 0f

- the planetit rnnnion liend itzma y he; secured to an ou'ter si'de o f the coupling -Weill 117, an intervening hron'ne aplate Ail serving to magnetically insulate the same. .A don-gitudinaliy mov'able armatiireunember 42 is mounted on the en d' ef-the =trunnion 12,

whereby the fplzt'net gear =9 :may be aloeked {at ap'pear 2 more fully hereirr after. 1

win, all as will llhe fild nieinher138 comprises:an anniilar magnetizable base portion -1 &3,- which is se-.

c'ured tn the Well 17, as above-noted. end

formled. 7

- 56 for-the inner cylindrical flange 44; The

it further comprises projecting annular flanges 44 and 45, forming spaced inner, and outer cylinders, the projecting shaft portion 39 of the trunnion 12 extending through the inner cylinder 44. A magnetizing winding 46, having terminal connections 47 and 48 is positioned in the annular space between the cylinders 44 and 45. The outer that of the pole faces 4951, is slidably mounted on the end of the projecting shaft portion 39 for longitudinal movement only,

the latter being in the form of a hexagon surface in enand' the armature sliding V correspondmgly gagement therewith being The adjacent armature and field-member surfaces 51' and 53, respectively, maybe held in spaced relation by means of a spring 54 concentrically mounted about the projectingshaft portion 39. f One end of the spring,

'54 engages the armature member 42, while the" other endthereof engages one of a pair of adjusting nuts .5555 which are in threaded engagement with a bronze bushing adjusting nuts 55-55 further engage an inner end of the bronze bushing 33. The {end of the projecting shaft portion 39 beyond the armature member 42 is threaded to receive a pair of adjusting nuts 5757 I which-are designed to prevent the spring 54 from forcingthe armature member. 42 off the shaft extension 39 as well as to determine the force of the spring54. p

' The armature 42 may be-prevented from contacting with the pole faces 51 so as to avoid the magnetization of the armature 42 by providingthe latterwith a plurality of spaced pins 58 of brass or other non-magnetizable material; The extent of the air gap'between the pole faces 51 andthe armature surface may be ascertained-at all times by means of a co-called air-gap tester 59 which comprises a resiliently mounted gauge pin 60 accessible from an outer surface of the armature 42, all as set forth in my 'co-pending application above noted. V A cylindrical member 61 is secured in threaded engagement with the armature member 42, the outer surface thereof being conical inform and provided with a frictio-nlining 62 forming a clutch surface 63.

A The member 61 is preferably of bronze in V tween the field piece 38 and the armature 42 order that undesirable magnetic leakage bemay be further avoided. The outer cylindrical flange 45 may be extended to form a projecting portion 64 having an inner conical surface 65 so conforming to that of the cylindrical member 61 as to constitute a cooperating clutch surface;

The above-noted threaded engagement of the armature member 42 and the cylindrical member 61 provides forsuch adjustment of the clutch surfaces 63 and 65 as may be desired; The cylindrical member61 may be locked to the armature member 42 in certain predetermined positions by providing the latter with an outwardly extending flange 66 having transversely extending slots 67, and by providing the cylindrical member 61 with an inwardly extending flange 68 having con'iplementary slots 69- for key members I 71. The key members '71 may be removably';

justably positioned brush holder 7 9. V e

In the operation of the power.-transmis sion system shown in theseveral figures "of the drawing, when the magnetizing wind+ ings 46 of the several magnetic clutches are. de-energized, therfrictional contacting surfaces 63 and 65are'held out of engagement by the force of the spring '54, so that the planet gears Qturning idly as the driving shaft 1 and sun gear 7 revolve. Hence, there is no transfer of power from the driving shaft 1 to the driven shaft 2.

However, when currentsv are supplied. to themagnetizing windings 46, the force of source (not shown), are mounted on an adattraction between the field piece 38 and the armature member 42 ox 'ercomes that of the releasing spring 54, causing the engagement of the cooperating frictional clutch surfaces 63 and 65 and the consequent locking of'the planet gears'9. With the locking of the planet gears 9, the operation of the driving shaftlcauses a corresponding increment of the planet carrier 15 and hence the shaft 2, thereby causing a transfer of power from the driving shaft 1 to the driven shaft 2 In-the practical application of my invention, considerable difficulty has been ex- 1 erienced due to the tra sin of air between the relatively movable armature and field 7 member surfaces 51 and 53, the trapped air preventingthe complete engagement of the clutch surfaces 63 and 65 and thereby resulting in poor clutch operation. To avoid such undesirable effects, I. provide one of the clutch members, say the outer flange 45 of-the field piece. 38, with aperforation 81 which extends from a'point immediately 1 adjacent t5 the without such Qmagnetic insulating means,

the efliciency of my apparatus is impaired. Accordingly, the armature 42, the planet gears 9 and their trunnions 11 and 12", the

sun gear 7 and the driving shaft 1 have been magnetically insulated from the remaining cooperating apparatus, by means of the several bronze elen'ients above-mentioned so that the. magnetic flux may normally tend mmerse a path shown by arrows a in Fig. 3 ofthe drawing to the practical exclusion of thearm'at ure shaft 39. lVhilej'I have described thefseveral' magnetic insulating elements as of bronze, it is to be under-' 'stoodvthat' my invention is netto be expressly limited thereto inasmuch as other non-magnetic elements are, also appl cable to my invention.

' My invention furthencontemplates brakiingameans 82, which is directly operableon the drivenishaft, experience having shown .thatbyso doing the strain incident to" the stopping of the apparatusis greatly reduced.

One form of such apparatus is shown in the.

I drawing, wherein the. outer surface of the cylindrlcal flange of theplanet, carrier 15 is formedto constitute a brake disk portion 83 for the-braking. apparatus 82'. A coop mu brake band 84 may be retainedin a desire position by means of flanges 85 and 86 which extend outwardly from the cylindrical flange 3,5 and which are positioned on opposite sides of the b'rakeband' 84. One end of the brake band' 84 is rigidly secured to a supporting pin 88 mounted ona base member 89. "The remaining end of the brake band 84 is secured to a brake-actuating lever ,9 1 through an. adjustable'blockrand-bdt mechanism 92 of known design. The brake 1 lever 91 is secured atone end to a pin 93 pivotally mounted on a supporting structure 94 carried by the :base member89. The other s end of the brake arm 91 is provided with a weight 95 which is adjustable to vary the braking force applied to thefbrake band 84.

The'brake arm 91 may be moved to release the braking action thereof to a desired extent by means of the solenoid 5 which is provided with a movable core97 havlng one end secured to the brake arm 91. Terminal conductors 98 and: 99 ofthe 'solenoid 5" may be connected with the usual energizingmeans (not shown). v v

Assuming the solenoid 5 energized", so that I thebrake arm 91 iscraised and the brake. band 84 is loose on the brake disk 83, ther planet carrier 1 5,ias well as the driven shaft 2, are free to revolve 'inac'cord'ance with the 1 operation of the driving shaft 1'. H'owever,

when the solenoid 5:7 is de energized, the

weighted brake arm 9 l' fa-ll s', causing the brake hand 84 to engage the brake disk 83 with a force depending uponthepositiom of the weight on* the bralte'arm 91; The en gagement ofthehrake band 84 and the brake disk 83 'ma=ythus cause the stopping of the driven shaft-23' l For operating andcontrolling-the system as a whole, I- prefer-to use a control systemsuch as set forth in my copending applica; tion, Serial No. 731,889, filed August 13, 1924. Inasmuch as this control syst-em; is fully disclosed in the saidapplicatio 1,.a de:- tailed description of it in this application can be omitted. However, the control system comprises a contact switch which is mechanically operated by parts of the pres ent mechanism, and this switch is shown-in the drawings and will be described; The switch is shown at 101 in Figs/4 and 5' and it is constructed to be operatedbythe movement of the brake arm- '91 by providing: a 1 pair of movable contact elements 102' on the movable brake pin- 93; A pair-of co-actingv stationary contact elements103 and l04 are suitably mounted in a I supporting casing 105 so that an electrical circuit is completed through the contact elements 102, 1 03i and 104 when the arm" 91-.is in the brakerel'easing'position' only. 3 I a a Vhile I have shown "and descri bed a spe- "cific embodiment. ofmy invention, for the purpose of'illustrating' the principles ofcon structioniandoperation thereoiit is apparent that various changes an dmodifications may be made therein" without: departing fromthe spirit of my-"invention, I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon, as are 'ind ieatedin the appended claims or as are-demanded by the prior art.

Icl im: v v v 1. In a clutch, thecombina-tion of'a rotatfable member, a gear secured to the rotatable member, a second member rotatable concentrically wlth the first member, a pinion-movable with the second member and meshing with the said gear, a shaftrot-atably mounted on the second member and carrying the pinion, a friction element having a splinedconnection with the shalt near the outer end:

thereof, a secondiriction element fixedly secured to" the said second rotatable member,

a spring tending to move the first said; fri'ction'element outward'along the shaft away from the second frictionelement, meanscarri'ed by the shaft for limiting thel'ast-said movement, and electro-inagnetic' means tor moving the first said friction element inopposition to the spring inward alongthe shaft into engagement with ti'on element;

' 2. Ina clutch, the combination of a mm the second fricable member, a gear secured to the rotatable member, a second member rotatable concentrically with the first-member, a pinion movable with the second member and meshing with the said gear, a shaft rotatably mounted on the second member and carrying the pinion, a friction element having a splined connection with the shaft near the outer end thereof, a second friction element fixedly secured to. the said second rotatable member, a spring surrounding the shaft and tending to move the first saidfriction'element outward along the shaft away from the second friction element, means carried by the shaft at the outer end thereof for limiting'the last i said movement, and electro-magnetic means surrounding the shaft and the spring for moving the firstsaid friction element in op- "position to thespring inward along the shaft .-into engagement with the second friction element.

. In a clutch, the combination of a rotatable member, a gear secured to the rotatable Y member, a second'member rotatable concentrically with the first member, a pinion movable; with the second ,member and meshing with the said gear, a shaft rotatably mounted on the second memberand carrying the pinion, an armature member splined on the shaft near the outer end thereof, a friction element carried by the armaturemember, a

second friction element fixedly secured to the said second rotatable member, aspring tending to move the said armature member together with its friction elementoutw'ard along theshaftaway from the second friction element, means carried by the shaft for limitingthe last said movement, an 'ele'ctro- 'relation between the armature member and the magnet. V I V 4. In combination, a magnetic clutch com prising a field piece, supporting means for said field piece, and a cooperating armature member, said supporting means constituting one element of a brake. v

5. In combinatiom'a power source, driven means, clutch apparatus having cooperating i parts respectively associated with said power source and said driven means, and-brake apparatus," one element of said clutch apparatus constituting an element of-saidbrake apparatus, the latter, including a cooperating element, and means for controlling the operation of said brake apparatus.

6. In combination, a power source, driven means, a planetary gear set, the elements of which are operatively associated with said 7 element.

power source and driven means, clutch means for determining the operation'and inoperation of the planet gears, and braking means for said driven means.

7 In combination, apower source, driven means, a sun gear secured to said power source, a planet carrier secured to said driven means, a planet gear revolubly carried by said carrier and positioned 'towmesh with said sun gear, and braking apparatus of which said planet carrier constitutes one 8. In combination, a power source, driven means,a sun gear secured to said power source, a planet carrier secured to said driven means, a planet gear revolubly carried by said carrier and positioned to mesh with said sun gear, means for locking said planet gear, and braking apparatus of which said lanet carrier constitutes one element.

9; r power transmission system c01npriS- ing operating elements, sun gear secured to one of said elements, a planet carrier secured to another of said elements, a planet gear revolubly carried by 'said carrier and positioned to, mesh with said sun i gear, releasable brake apparatus, said planet carrier constituting the disk of said brake apparatus, the latter also including a cooperating brake band, and means for releasing said brake apparatus, v

, 10; In a system of power transmission apparatus, the combination with a power source and drivenmeans,of a sungear secured to said power source, a planet carrier secured to said driven means, a planet gear revolubly carried by said carrier and positioned to mesh with said sun gear, gravityset brake apparatus, said planet carrier constituting one element of said brake ap 'paratus, the latter'also including a cooperating brake band, weighted meansfor exert- "ing'a force on said band, and means for determining the effectiveness of said lastmentioned means. i

11. In combination, operating elements, a sun gear securedito one of saidelements, a planet carrier secured to another of said elements, a planet gear revolublycarried by said carrier and positioned'to mesh with said sun gear, a brake band operablyassociated with said planet carrier, a brake lever secured to said brake, band, and magnetic means for determining the effectiveness of said brake lever. V

12. In combination, a power-source, driven means, a sun gear secured to said power source, a planet carrier secured to said driven means, a planet gear "revolubly carried by said carrier and positioned to mesh with said sun gear, magnetic clutch means respectively secured to said planet carrier and said planet gear, and means for minimizing magnetic leakage,

13. A power system comprising, a power.

source, driven means, a sun gear secured to said power source, a planet carrier secured to said driven means, a planet gear revolubly carried by said carrier and positioned to mesh with said sun gear, a field piece secured to said planet carrier, a cooperating armature member secured to said sun gear, and means for so magnetically insulating said field piece from said armature as to minimize leakage. r

14. In combination, a power source, driven means, a driving sun gear secured to said power source, a driven planet carrier se cured to said driven means, a planet gear revolubly carried by said carrier and positioned to mesh with said sun gear, and a magnetic clutch comprising a field piece secured to said planet carrier, and a cooperating armature secured to said planet gear, said field piece and said armature member having telescoping portions, one of said portions being so perforated as to avoid the trapping of air therebetween.

15. A magnetic clutch comprising a field piece, an armature member mounted for movement relative'to said field piece, said field piece and said armature member having cooperating friction surfaces, said field piece being provided'with a perforation extending into the space intermediate said field piece and said armature, whereby the air pressureiintermedi'ate the same may be maintained substantially uniform.

16. A clutch having cooperating parts, supporting means for one of said parts, a brake, said supporting means constituting an element of said brake, and a switch actuated by the other element of said brake.

17. In combination, a clutch comprising cooperating parts, supporting means for one of said parts constituting a brake drum, a

brake band for said drum, a brake'lever for actuating said brake drum, and circuit-interrupting means operated lever.

, JOSEPH W. TII-IR'OPP,

by said brake 

